The Appalachian Basin is one of

the most important coal-producing

regions in the world (figs. 1–3, table 1).

Bituminous coal has been mined in the

basin for the last three centuries, and

the cumulative production is estimated

at 34.5 billion short tons. Annual production in 1998 was about 452 million

short tons (Energy Information Administration, 1999); the basin’s production

is mostly in the northern (32 percent)

and central (63 percent) coal regions.

The coal is used primarily within the

Eastern United States for electric power

generation, but some of it is suitable for

metallurgical uses.

The U.S. Geological Surv

is completing a National Coal 

Assessment of five coal-produ

regions of the United States, in

the Appalachian Basin. The U

cooperation with the State geo

surveys of Kentucky (KY), Ma

(MD), Ohio (OH), Pennsylvan

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS Fact Sh

ppp

five regions being assessed in the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Coal Resource

Assessment.

g p

assessed coal beds and zones (plus the

Lower Kittanning coal bed) in the northern

and central Appalachian Basin coal regions.

eepot coabed ad te oe

stone in Pennsylvania. Photogra

of James Shaulis, Pennsylvania 

Topographic and Geologic Surv

Table 1. Original (Orig.) and remaining (Remain) coal resources (in millions of short tons) by State in each of five assessed coal beds or 

northern and central Appalachian Basin coal regions.

[Resource estimates are rounded to two significant figures. Asterisk (*) indicates that resources are less than reported here because mi

maps are not current. Data are from Northern and Central Appalachian Basin Coal Regions Assessment Team, in press]

Total 31,000 19,000 18,000 15,000 1,200 <810* 30,000 22,000 8,800 6,500 3,500 2,900 93,00

Pocahontas No. 3 4,300 2,600 2,900 2,500 7,20

Pond Creek 5,600 5,000 4,600 3,300 570 370 11,00

Fire Clay 2,100 1,800 4,200 3,200 55 49 6,30

Upper Freeport 16,000 14,000 12,000 12,000 910 <810* 5,000 4,500 34,00

Pittsburgh 15,000 5,000 5,900 3,200 261 0 13,000 7,800 34,00

Orig. Remain

Coal bed PA OH MD WV KY VA 

or zone Orig. Remain Orig. Remain Orig. Remain Orig. Remain Orig. Remain Ori

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– – – –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –

– –
Virginia (VA), and West Virginia (WV),

has completed a digital coal resource

assessment of five of the top-producing

coal beds and coal zones in the northern

and central Appalachian Basin coal

regions (fig. 2). These are the Pittsburgh

coal bed, the Upper Freeport coal bed,

the Fire Clay and Pond Creek coal

zones, and the Pocahontas No. 3 coal

bed. Of the 93 billion short tons of original coal in these units, about 66 billion

short tons remain (table 1). Results and

data are being released in USGS Professional Paper 1625–C (Northern and Central Appalachian Basin Coal Regions

Assessment Team, in press).

ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY

More than 1,000 previously published and unpublished maps were digitized and combined in a geographic

information system (GIS) to create databases that describe the areal extent and

mined areas of each of the five assessed

coal beds and coal zones. Comprehensive

stratigraphic and geochemical databases

were built and used to make coverages

showing coal thickness, elevation, overburden thickness, and geochemical data.

Coverages were combined to calculate

original and remaining coal resources.

In addition, areal extent, mined

areas, and geochemical coverages were

compiled for a sixth coal bed, the

Lower Kittanning coal bed in the northern Appalachian Basin coal region (fig.

4). Resources were not calculated for

the Lower Kittanning because the stratigraphic databases were incomplete.

Ash yield, sulfur content, calculated

sulfur dioxide content, and gross calorific

value are summarized in table 2 for the

five assessed coal beds and zones and

the Lower Kittanning coal bed. For each

assessed coal unit, 12 additional chemical parameters (antimony, beryllium,

cadmium, chlorine, chromium, cobalt,

lead, manganese, nickel, selenium,

arsenic, and mercury) were mapped and

were included in USGS Professional

Paper 1625–C. 

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) contents were

calculated to estimate potential SO2

emissions. Phase II of the Clean Air

Act Amendments of 1990 (Public Law

101–549) was implemented in January

2000 and capped powerplant SO2 emissions nationally. This cap limits a

plant’s emissions to 1.2 pounds of SO2

emitted per million British thermal

units (lbs SO2/million Btu). S

culated SO2 values in table 2 

the cap, but the coal can still 

lized if it is blended with low

coal, washed to remove sulfu

busted in powerplants that ha

installed flue-gas-desulfuriza

RESULTS OF THE DIGITAL

ASSESSMENTS

Pittsburgh Coal Bed (Northern

Appalachian Basin Coal Regio

The Pittsburgh coal bed e

more than 5,000 square miles 

Pennsylvania, Ohio, Marylan

West Virginia (fig. 4). The Pit

coal is high in calorific value 

and is used primarily for elec

generation. In over 220 years

burgh coal bed has produced 

than any other U.S. coal bed. 

it is the top producer in the A

an Basin and the second large

Nation (Energy Information A

tration, 1999). Overall, the Pi

a medium-ash and medium-su

bed (table 2). Calculated SO2 

the coal (table 2) do not meet 

emission standards (1.2 lbs S

Btu), but usage continues bec
the near future.

Upper Freeport Coal Bed (Northern

Appalachian Basin Coal Region)

The Upper Freeport coal bed

occupies more than 14,000 mi2 in

Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and

West Virginia (figs. 3–5). Although

production is declining, the Upper

Freeport remains the third most productive coal bed in this region and

the 14th largest producer in the United States (Energy Information

Administration, 1999). Overall, the

Upper Freeport coal bed is classified

as a medium-ash, medium-sulfur, and

high-calorific-value coal (table 2),

but it fails to meet current SO2 emission standards without blending or

scrubbing. Original total resources of

the Upper Freeport coal bed are estimated at 34 bst, of which less than

31 bst remain (table 1). Pods of thick

coal remain under deep overburden

(>1,000–2,000 feet) and are unlikely

to be mined. Relatively shallow

resources remain in Pennsylvania

and Ohio; they can be mined and

combusted in powerplants that blend

coal or are equipped with flue-gasdesulfurization units.

resources. The Fire Clay coal zone is

distributed throughout approximately

5,500 mi2 in West Virginia, Kentucky,

and Virginia (fig. 4). The coal is

mined predominantly from underground mines and is used for electric

power generation. The Fire Clay coal

is a high-calorific-value, mediumash, low-sulfur coal that is blended

with other low-sulfur coals to meet

current SO2 emission standards (table

2). Resource estimates show that 5.1

bst remain of the original 6.3 bst

(table 1); most of the remaining

resource is in Leslie and Knott Counties, KY, and Boone County, WV. The

Fire Clay is expected to continue as a

major producer in the central

Appalachian Basin coal region for

the next decade.

Pond Creek Coal Zone (Central

Appalachian Basin Coal Region)

The Pond Creek coal zone is

called the Lower Elkhorn coal bed in

Kentucky, the Imboden coal bed in

Virginia, and the Eagle coal zone in

West Virginia. The Pond Creek coal

zone extends for 8,700 mi2 (fig. 4),

of which almost 3,700 mi2 were

assessed. Coal beds of the Pond

sion standards. Resource es

for the Pond Creek coal zon

calculated on individual coa

or deposits that are most lik

mined. Of the calculated or

resource of 11 bst, about 8.

remain (table 1). West Virgi

the largest remaining resour

Pond Creek coal where the 

relatively thick and shallow

Pocahontas No. 3 Coal Bed (Ce

Appalachian Basin Coal Regio

The Pocahontas No. 3 c

present in southern West Vi

southwestern Virginia (fig. 

has produced more high-qu

than any other coal bed in V

It continues to yield coal, a

some areas, it is being expl

its coal-bed methane resour

Pocahontas No. 3 coal bed 

ash and sulfur, is very high 

calorific value, and meets c

SO2 emission standards (tab

Resource estimates indicate 

original resources were 7.2 

Pocahontas No. 3 coal, of w

bst remain (table 1). Relativ

unmined coal remains at de

>500–2,000 feet.
Appalachian coals.

—Leslie Ruppert, Susan Tewalt, and

Linda Bragg

pg

coal/cia/html/aproduct.html. 

(Accessed Dec. 11, 2001.)

Northern and Central Appalachian Basin

Coal Regions Assessment Team, in

press, 2000 Resource assessment of

selected coal beds and zones in the

northern and central Appalachian

Basin coal regions: U.S. Geological

Survey Professional Paper 1625–C,

CD-ROM’s.

, 

Telephone: 703–648–6431

E-mail: lruppert@usgs.gov